ASSOCIATION. FIRST DIVISION.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 119, 23 May 1910, Page 8

ASSOCIATION. FIRST DIVISION.

Swifts, 3; Diamonds, 0. Ramblers, 2; V.M.C.A., 1. Thistle, 0; Rovers, 0. Ideal weather prevailed on Saturday, but the general standard of Association football is still poor. The result of the Swifts-Diamonds encounter was i surprise to many who remembered the brilliant performances of the latter team in 1908, and Ramblers also occasioned a surprise by their victory against last year's runners-up for the championship. SWIFTS (3) v. DIAMONDS (0). Swifts defeated Diamonds by 3 goals to' nil on the Basin Reserve, after a disappointing exhibition. Slipshod passing among the forwards and inaccurate shooting in front of the posts marred the work of both teams. The score is a fairly accurate indication of tho merits of Ihe respective teams, Dia monds, though occasionally showing some fine individual efforts, being outclassed throughout. In the fh-sb half, Grounds, a new player at Swifts' outside left, opened the scoring account with a fast, low drive, which, took Diamonds goalkeeper (Marshall) by surprise. Fast open play then lasted till just before half-lime, when Norman, an ex-Y.M.C.A. player, added a second to Swifts' score by a well-placed high dropping shot from the right, Grounds giving the needful "centre." It was well calculated and delivered. ■ Play did not improve in the second spell, and the game degenerated into little more than a series of throw-ins. Fifteen minutes . after resumption, Vessey scored the only other registered. A spirited rush had been initiated by tho red front-rankers, but about half-way up Vessey took charge and piloted the leather himself for the rest of the way, beating Marshall with a fast low drive. Diamonds made commendable efforts to improve their position, but they were out-manoeuvred, and failed to score. M'Lean, in Swifts' goal, was always alert and prompt. Mr. H. Godber managed the game. ROVERS (0) v. THISTLE (6). This match was played on Newtown Park, ai\d resulted in a draw, neither side scoring. Play during the first half was of a straggling nature Both teams indulged in long kicking, but towards the latter part of the firsi spell some efforts at combination made the game more interesting, Blackwood (Thistles' outside left) and his partner (Slater) doing some spirited work.. Both teams, however, showed plainly a want of training. Towards the end Thistles pressed Rovers pretty hard, but good defensive play by the latter saved them time and again. Mr. Yeomans refereed. ' RAMBLERS (2) v. V.M.C.A. (1). Ramblers met Y.MjC.A. on Saturday afternoon in an evenly-contested game. The play was not of the first order, and towards the end both teams somewhat slackened their efforts. Coward was the first to score for Ramblers. With some neat footwork and a well-directed kick he gave the- Young Men's goalkeeper no chance. Ramblers were hard pressed after half-time, and Kingwell, for V.M.C.A., put in a neat header, making the teams equal with one goal each. Schofield livened things up considerably, taking the ball to the Ramblers's goal. After a melee at the goal-mouth the Ramblers rushed play down to their opponents' twenty-five. A rough-and-tumble ensued, in which a shot hit the inside of one of the uprights and glanced into goal. There was no other score, but at one time thinks looked black for the Ramblers again, and an offside against V.M.C.A. relieved the pressure. Mr. Paton was in charge of the game. A disagreeable feature of the afternoon ■was the unsportsmanlike conduct of a section of the onlookers. They vented their ill-humour on all and sundry of the 6ide they were not barracking for, and the referee was made the butt of their childish remarks. SECOND DIVISION. Wanderers (1) defeated St. Augustine's (nil) after a hard- fought and closely-contested game. Marist Brothers defeated Brooklyn by 4 goals to 2. Bowie, Bowden, King, and 'Needhain scored for the winners, Dalzey and Greeks for the losers. Diamonds beat St. David's by 2 goals to nil. Mental Hospital (5) defeated St. John's (2). Phillips (2), Elliott (2), and Davis (1) scored for the winners. It was a good game. Swiits v. Berhampore, a draw — one goal each. V.M.C.A. beat Diamonds by 3 goals to 1. Macklin, Irvine, and Hughes scor<»d for the winners ; Lowe for the losers. THIRD DIVISION. Wadestown Wanderers defeated St. John's by four goals to two. Brooke (3) and Amies (1) scored for the winners. A Wanderer scored accidentally for St. John's, and Bruce notched the other. Diamonds beat St. "David's by 2 goals to nil. \ FOURTH DIVISION. V.M.C.A. and Newtown Congregational played on the Basin Reserve prior to the senior fixture, and the game resulted in a win for V.M.C.A. by 3 goals to 2. Marist B (2) dTew with Swift B (3). Pope, Chapman, and Butler scored for Marist B. Swifts beat Petone by 4 goals to nil. Brooklyn (3) v. Diamonds (3). Rangers won by default from Ramblers. FIFTH DIVISION. A GRADE. V.M.C.A. (I) beat Marist Brothers A (nil). B GRADE. Wadestown Wanderers (1) defeated Swifts (nil). Hanratty scored. Brooklyn (3) defeated Marist Brothers (0). Thomas, Keeble, and Morris scored. Petone beat Island Bay Primitive Methodists by 6 goals to nil. SIXTH DIVISION. Institute A beat Seatoun, 1 goal to nil. Kelly was the scorer. Marist A beat St. David's by 4 to 1. Carruthers (3) and Scanlon scored for the winners. Khandallah and V.M.C.A. B drew with 2 goals each, after a spirited game. Pearce and Kean scored for Khandallah, and Nimmo (2) for V.M.C.A. NEW ZEALAND ASSOCIATION. At the New Zealand Football Association's annual meeting the election of officers resulted as follows : — Patron, His Excellency the Governor ; president, Sir J. G. Ward ; vicepresidents, Hon. W. Carncross, M.L.C., Messrs. C. H. Poole, M. P., J. T. Hogan, M.P., J. Vigor Brown, M.P., A. Dillon, M.P., R. Heaton Rhodes, M.P., T K. Sidey, M.P., J. F. Arnold, M.P., J. A. Hanan, M.P., C E. Mackay, H. N. Holmes, F. J. Courtney, J. G. W. Aitken, S. W. Thornton, R. B. Walker, P. L. Davies, and Dr. E. A. Walker; hon. treasurer, Mr. L. White (re-elect-ed) ; hon. secretary, Mr. B. L. Salmon (re-elected) ; hon. auditor, Mr. M. Frasei- (re-elected) ; representative on Football Association, London, Mr. A. E. Gibba /reflected.).